Department of International Relations
The Graduate Program
Admission
General MA Requirements
Core Course Requirement
Language Requirement
Statistics Requirement
Master's Paper Requirement
Comprehensive Examination Requirement
Master of Arts in International Relations
Master of Arts in International Relations and Religion
Master of Arts in International Relations and International Communications
Master of Arts in International Relations and Environmental Policy
Master of Arts in International Relations and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Arts in International Relations and Juris Doctor (JD)
International Relations Courses
Teaching Fellow Training
Directed Study
The following list reflects the 2007/2008 faculty.
Chair Erik Goldstein
Faculty
Andrew J. Bacevich Professor of International Relations and History, College of Arts & Sciences BS, United States Military Academy; MA, PhD, Princeton University
Thomas U. Berger Associate Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Columbia College; PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Houchang E. Chehabi Professor of History and International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. Licence, Université de Caen (France); Diplôme, Institut d’Etudes Politiques (France); MA, PhD, Yale University
Angelo M. Codevilla Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Rutgers University; MA, University of Notre Dame; PhD, Claremont Graduate School
Walter D. Connor Chair, Department of Political Science, Professor of International Relations, Political Science, and Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, College of the Holy Cross; MA, PhD, Princeton University
Michael T. Corgan Associate Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BS, U.S. Naval Academy; MPA, University of Washington; PhD, Boston University
Charles F. Dunbar Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. Former U.S. Ambassador to Yeman and Qatar. BA, Harvard University; MIA, Columbia University
Christine Fair Assistant Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, PhD, University of Chicago
Joseph Fewsmith Professor of International Relations and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Northwestern University; MA, PhD, University of Chicago
David Fromkin Professor of History and International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor of Law, School of Law. BA, JD, University of Chicago; Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London (England)
Kevin Gallagher Assistant Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Northeastern University; MA, PhD, Tufts University
Erik Goldstein Chair, Department of International Relations; Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Tufts University; MA, MALD, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; PhD, University of Cambridge (England)
William W. Grimes Associate Chair, Associate Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences BA, Yale University; MPA, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs; PhD, Princeton University
Husain Haqqani Director, Center for International Relations; Associate Professor of International Relations. BA, MA, University of Karachi
Arthur S. Hulnick Director of Undergraduate Studies; Associate Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. Former CIA Officer-in-Residence. BA, Princeton University
Robert Jackson Professor of International Relations and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, University of British Columbia (Canada); PhD, University of California, Berkeley
William R. Keylor Professor of International Relations and History, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Stanford University; MA, PhD, Columbia University
Igor Lukes University Professor; Professor of History and International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, PhD, Universita Karlova (Czech Republic); MALD, PhD, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
H. Joachim Maître Director, Division of Military Education; Director, Center for Defense Journalism; Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor of Journalism, College of Communication. BA, MA, Rheinishe Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (Germany); PhD, McGill University (Canada)
Adil Najam Director, Pardee Center; Professor of International Relations and Geography and the Environment, College of Arts & Sciences. BSc, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore; MS, MS, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Augustus Richard Norton Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, University of Miami; PhD, University of Chicago
David Scott Palmer Professor of International Relations and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Dartmouth College; MA, Stanford University; PhD, Cornell University
Elizabeth H. Prodromou Assistant Professor of International Relations. BA, Tufts University; MALD, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; SM, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Uri Ra’anan University Professor; Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences; Director, Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy. MA, MLitt, Oxford University (England)
Vivien Ann Schmidt Professor of International Relations, Jean Monet Professor of European Integration, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Bryn Mawr College; MA, PhD, University of Chicago
Henrik Selin Director of Graduate Studies, Assistant Professor of International Relations. MA, Lund University (Sweden); PhD, Linköping University (Sweden)
John R. Silber President Emeritus; University Professor; Professor of International Relations and Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor of Law, School of Law. BA, Trinity University; MA, PhD, Yale University; LLD, LHD, EdD (hon.)
Strom C. Thacker Associate Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Pomona College; MA, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Min Ye Assistant Professor of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Beijing University, China; MA, University of South Carolina; PhD, Princeton University
Affiliated Faculty
Edouard J. Bustin Professor of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MS, PhD, Université de l’Etat de Liège (Belgium)
T. Barton Carter Professor of Communication, College of Communication. BA, Yale University; MS, Boston University; JD, University of Pennsylvania
Daniela Caruso Associate Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law. LLB, University of Bari (Italy); LLM, Harvard Law School
Walter C. Clemens Jr. Professor of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of Notre Dame; MA, PhD, Columbia University
Susan E. Eckstein Professor of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Beloit College; MA, PhD, Columbia University
Michael G. Elasmar Associate Professor of Communication, College of Communication. BA, MA, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; PhD, Michigan State University
Irene L. Gendzier Professor of History and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, MA, PhD, Columbia University
Robert E. B. Lucas Professor of Economics, College of Arts & Sciences. BSc, MSc, London School of Economics (England); PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
David A. Mayers Professor of History and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Oberlin College; MA, PhD, University of Chicago
James Pritchett Associate Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Ohio State University; AM, PhD, Harvard University
Wilfrid J. Rollman Fellow, Center for International Relations; Associate Professor of History, Wellesley College. BA, Creighton University; MA, PhD, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Chandler Rosenberger Fellow, Center for International Relations; Assistant to President Emeritus Silber. BA, Dartmouth College; MSt, Oxford University (England); PhD, Boston University
John J. Schulz Professor, College of Communication. BA, University of Montana; MA, PhD, Oxford University (England)
Merry White Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, Radcliffe College; AM, PhD, Harvard University
Emeriti
Brigitte Berger Professor Emerita of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Universität Stuttgart (Germany); MA, PhD, New School for Social Research
Daniel S. Cheever Professor Emeritus of International Relations and Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences; Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh. AB, MA, PhD, Harvard University
Stephen R. Lyne Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History, College of Arts & Sciences. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana. BA, Amherst College; MA, PhD, Stanford University
Lawrence M. Martin Professor Emeritus of Journalism, College of Communication. MA, JD, Universitá Karlova (Czech Republic)
Farhang Mehr Professor Emeritus of International Relations, College of Arts & Sciences. BSc, LenD, University of Tehran (Iran); LLM, University of London (England); PhD, University of Southampton (England); LLD (hon.), University of Pennsylvania
Fred F. Woerner Professor Emeritus of International Relations; former Commander in Chief of U.S. Southern Command (CINCSOUTH). BS, United States Military Academy; MA, University of Arizona
The Graduate Program
The Department of International Relations has developed six interdisciplinary Master of Arts programs: Master of Arts in International Relations; Master of Arts in International Relations and Religion; Master of Arts in International Relations and International Communication (joint degree); Master of Arts in International Relations and Environmental Policy (joint degree); Master of Arts in International Relations and Master of Business Administration (dual degree); and Master of Arts in International Relations and Juris Doctor (dual degree). These international relations programs prepare students for careers in the international arena, government work in the Foreign Service, agency work, and work in public and private international organizations, including non-governmental organizations, consulting, business, banking, teaching, and international journalism or marketing. The curriculum, which is multidisciplinary, embraces courses in political science, history, geography, economics, environmental science, anthropology, sociology, communications, law, and management. The Department is affiliated with the Center for International Relations; the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology & Policy; the Pardee Center; and the African Studies Center. These centers are located on campus and organize lecture and seminar series throughout the academic year. Boston offers students a wide range of resources, access to research collections, and the Boston Library Consortium arrangement with Tufts University, Boston College, MIT, and Wellesley College, among others.
For more information, contact the Department of International Relations: 152 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, 617-353-9349; Department of International Relations website: www.bu.edu/ir.
Admission
All applicants to the MA in International Relations, MA in International Relations and Religion, and MA in International Relations and International Communication for the fall semester are required to submit a complete application by April 15 (January 15 for admission with consideration for merit-based financial aid). Applications to the MA in International Relations and Environmental Policy for the fall semester are required to submit a complete application by July 1 (January 15 for consideration for merit-based financial aid). Applications for the spring semester must be complete by October 15, except applications for the MA in International Relations and Environmental Policy, which must be complete by November 15. Students are admitted on a full- or part-time basis in accordance with the Graduate School rules.
A complete application must include Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores, all official transcripts for undergraduate or other academic work, three academic letters of recommendation, and a personal essay (not more than two pages or 500 words in length). Non-native English-speaking students who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting a TOEFL score.
Complete applications should be sent to the address below:
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
705 Commonwealth Avenue
Room 112
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-2696
Students applying to the dual degree program with the School of Law should follow all admissions procedures set by the School of Law, including submission of the LSAT in place of the GRE. For more information, please contact the School of Law:
School of Law
Office of Admissions
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-3100
School of Law website: www.bu.edu/law
Students applying to the dual degree program with the School of Management should follow all admissions procedures set by the School of Management, including submission of the GMAT in place of the GRE. For more information, please contact the School of Management:
School of Management
Graduate Management Admissions Office
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-9144
School of Management website: management.bu.edu.
General MA Requirements
The following is the list of requirements that apply to all degree programs in international relations. For specific degree requirements, please refer to the appropriate section below.
Core Course Requirement
The Department has established four core areas of study within international relations and offers courses within each of those four core areas. All students must take (at least) one course in three of the four core areas to satisfy the core requirement. The list of core courses appears below. (These courses are subject to change due to changes in teaching schedules.)
Theory and Policy
IR 508 Islamic Political Movements and U.S. Policy
IR 522 Ideas and American Foreign Policy
IR 535 Diplomacy & Statecraft
IR/UNI SS 544 Comparative Political Systems
IR 546 Power & Legitimacy
IR/RN 560 The Politics of Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationalism in International Relations
IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
IR/PO 574 Ethics and International Relations
IR 594/GE 595 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy
IR 712 International State Systems
IR 770 Public International Law
IR 772 Classics of International Relations
IR/GE 794 International Environmental Affairs
PO 581 National Development and International Policies
Economics
IR 527 Political Economy of China
IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
IR 587 Political Economy of the Middle East
IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
IR 596 Globalization and Contemporary Capitalism in Advanced Industrialized Nations
IR 597 Sustainable Development in Latin America
IR 704 Global Economic and Development Policy
IR 759 International Institutions for Finance, Development, and Trade
IR 760 Political Economy of the European Community
IR 765 Japanese Political Economy
IR 789 Globalization, Development, Governance
PO 523 Global Justice
PO 842 Comparative Development and Underdevelopment
SO 720 Development and Underdevelopment
Regional Studies
IR 503 U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
IR 504 The Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula
IR 506 India: An Emerging World Power
IR 509/PO 573 Islam in Middle East Politics
IR 538 France, Europe, and the World: The History of French Foreign Policy in Modern Times
IR 539 State-Formation and Nation-Building in Southeastern Europe: From Byzantium to Brussels
IR 540 Committing to Defend Europe: The U.S. and the U.K.
IR 541/UNI SS 541 Russia’s International Policies I
IR 542 Reemergence of Russia
IR 543 Changing Face of Eastern Europe
IR 545/UNI SS 545 European Diplomatic History
IR 549 Politics and International Relations of the Federal Republic of Germany
IR 550 West European Integration
IR 551 Social Europe: Identity, Citizenship, and the Welfare State
IR 552 Nordic Europe
IR 562 Politics and Religion in Modern Europe: Church-State Relations in Comparative Perspective
IR 567 Latin American Politics
IR 568 U.S.-Latin American Relations
IR 577 Foreign Policy of China
IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics
IR 706 The Iranian Revolution and Its Impact on the Middle East
IR 764 Seminar on China in the Contemporary World
IR 767 Latin American Comparative Politics
IR 787 The Latin American Policies of the United States
IR 788 International Relations of Asia-Pacific
IR 802/UNI SS 802 Russia’s International Policies II
HI 731 Topics in Modern France
Security Studies
IR 516 Intelligence and Homeland Security
IR 557 Guerrilla Warfare and Terrorism
IR 578 Foreign Intelligence and Security Systems
IR 583 Aspects of Defense Planning and Technology
IR 589 North Atlantic/European Security Issues
IR 750 Defense Policies of Nations
IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence
Language Requirement
All students in the Department of International Relations are required to demonstrate graduate level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree program. Graduate-level proficiency is the ability to understand accurately newspaper and professional journal articles in the field of foreign relations, using standard reference materials. English is considered a second language for non-native English speakers. Language examinations are administered by the Department twice each semester. All students are strongly encouraged to meet this degree requirement before the last semester of their degree program. Exam instructions: www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/exam.
Statistics Requirement
Students must pass an undergraduate (or higher) level course in statistics prior to completion of the degree program. Students may satisfy this requirement by presenting documentation of previous coursework or successful completion of CAS MA 113, CAS MA 115, GRS PO 841, or GRS IR 702 at Boston University or an equivalent course outside the University. GRS PO 841 and GRS IR 702 will also fulfill an IR elective requirement. For International Relations and Master of Business Administration students, GSM QM 716 will fulfill both the statistics requirement and a GSM core requirement. For International Relations and International Communication students, COM CM 722 will fulfill both the statistics requirement and a COM core requirement (or elective, if the student wishes). For International Relations and Environmental Policy students, GRS MA 614, GRS MA 684, GRS GE 516 and GRS IR 712 will fulfill both the statistics requirement and a CEES elective. In order to fulfill the requirement, the statistics class must be taken for a letter grade (not pass/fail), and online classes are not accepted. The statistics requirement does not apply to students in the International Relations and Religion degree program.
Master’s Paper Requirement
All students must complete a master’s paper and orally defend that paper before a panel of three professors. The Department allows students the option to choose between writing a traditional master’s research paper or writing a policy paper. The requirements for both options as well as examples of both research and policy papers are available at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/papers.
Comprehensive Examination Requirement
All Master of Arts students in the Department of International Relations must orally defend their MA papers before a panel of three professors chosen by the Department. Students are permitted to participate in the oral defense examination only after all other degree requirements have been met. The purpose of the oral examination is to test the student’s knowledge in the area of research related to the MA paper and to test the student’s ability to discuss that knowledge at length in a clear and organized manner. You may access the latest schedule for these exams via the Web at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/papers.
Master of Arts in International Relations
The Master of Arts in International Relations is designed as a terminal MA program for students who intend to pursue careers in the field of international relations after graduation. Although the program can be completed in one academic year, most students spend three semesters (or two semesters and one summer term) in the Department. Two semesters are devoted to completing the required coursework, statistics and language requirements, and the third semester is devoted to writing the MA paper.
This program is ideal for U.S. Army Officers who are required to complete a master’s program as part of their training in the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) training program. Boston University is on the U.S. Army approved list of schools for Advanced Civil Schooling in Latin American studies, East and West European studies, Russian studies, East Asian studies, Middle Eastern studies, and African Studies.
While enrolled in this one-year MA program, students can also complete a Graduate Certificate in African Studies under the joint direction of the Department and the African Studies Center. No additional coursework is required. For details regarding this certificate, please see the section on the African Studies Center in this bulletin or contact them at 617-353-3673.
RequirementsIn addition to the general degree requirements explained above, five approved graduate-level elective courses are required to complete this degree program. A total of eight courses or the equivalent of 32 credits is required for graduation. The list of approved international relations elective courses appears below.
Master of Arts in International Relations and Religion
This innovative one-year degree program is a joint offering of the Departments of International Relations and Religion.
The MA program emphasizes both the intellectual and policy aspects of the role of religion in international relations. The course offerings underscore the need for a comparative, interdisciplinary approach to the study of religion and world affairs, and the degree program offers students the opportunity to develop theoretical, functional, and/or regional expertise in the examination of religion’s role in sub-state, inter-state, and transnational phenomena. The curriculum draws on courses in the Departments of Religion and International Relations, as well as the School of Theology and other social science and humanities departments throughout the University.
The MA is designed for students interested in both academic and policy careers that deal with the intersection of religion and world affairs. Particularly suitable undergraduate majors include international relations, political science, theology, and religion; related disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology, and economics also provide useful background. Students and public policy professionals working in the areas of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peace studies, and mass media are also encouraged to apply to the MA degree program. However, there is no firm requirement that applicants have pursued specific majors or career paths, if they can demonstrate a clear interest in and ability to complete the program.
Requirements
For the one-year MA in International Relations and Religion program, students are required to complete successfully 32 credits (seven 4-credit and two 2-credit courses) with a grade of B— or higher. These are divided into four required courses, four courses in a regional or functional specialization, and one free elective. Students must also satisfy the Department of International Relations’ foreign language exam (in a language relevant to the program of study) and write a final Master’s paper, as per the general degree requirements explained above. The course requirements are as follows:
Four Required Courses:
IR/RN 561 Religion and International Relations
IR 761/RN 759 Topics in International Relations and Religion
RN 796 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion II (2 credits)
RN 797 Theory of Religion and Politics (2 credits)
One elective course from the Department of International Relations, the Department of Religion, or another department. (Courses selections in other departments are subject to approval by the Department of International Relations in consultation with the Department of Religion.)
Four courses in one geographical or functional area from the following list. (Students may also design their own regional or functional area with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies of the Department of International Relations.)
Regional Courses
West and South Asia
IR 504 Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula
IR 509 Islam in Middle East Politics
IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics
IR 705 Modernization in Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan
IR 706 Iranian Revolution and Its Impact on the Middle East
IR 707 Political Reform in the Middle East
AN 707 Turkey and Middle East Perspective
AN 717 Power and Society in the Middle East
HI 892 The Middle East
PO 560 Politics and Society in North Africa and the Middle East
RN 631 Zionism and the State of Israel
RN 640 The Quran
RN 643 Global Islam
RN 644 Islam and the West
RN 675/AN 775 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia
East and Southeast Asia
IR 518 Korea and the Major Powers
IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia
IR 570 Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan
IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China
IR 579 Japan in International Politics
IR 585 Problems and Issues in Post-Mao China
IR 765 Political Economy of Japan
IR 788 International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
AN 505/SO 505 Asian Development: The Case of Women
AN 706 Comparative Family Systems in Asia
AN 718 Southeast Asia: Tradition and Development
AN 744 Modern Japanese Society
AN 779 China: Tradition and Transition
HI 888 History of the Pacific Rim
HI 890 Modern Chinese History
HI 891 Modern Japanese History
Europe and the Americas
IR 541 Russia’s International Policies I
IR 542 The Reemergence of Russia
IR 543 The Changing Face of Eastern Europe
IR 544 Comparative Political Systems and Foreign Policies
IR 545 Central/East European Diplomatic History, 1814–1918
IR 550 West European Integration
IR 567 Latin American Politics
IR 568 U.S.-Latin American Relations
IR 571 Central America: Crisis, Conflict, and U.S. Policy
IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
IR 802 Russia’s International Policies II
HI 821 The Making of Modern Britain
HI 846 History of the Soviet Union and Post-Communist Russia, 1917–Present
HI 886 Modern Latin America
PO 586 Nationalism in Post-Soviet Eurasia
PO 661 Continental Western European Governments
RN 612 Buddhism in America
RN 613 Hinduism in America
RN 622 History of Judaism
RN 628 Judaism in the Modern Period
RN 630 American Jewry
RN 633 Anti-Semitism
RN 683 Vienna from the Turn of the Century to World War II
RN 684 The Holocaust
RN 797 Topics in American Religion
RN 799 Topics in Judaic Studies
Africa
AN 712 Studies in African Ethnography
HI 894 Environmental History of Africa
HI 895 South Africa in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
PO 560 Politics and Society in North Africa and the Middle East
PO 565 Government and Politics of Contemporary Africa
PO 566 Political Systems of Southern Africa
PO 786 Africa in International Relations
PO 866 Politics of French-Speaking Africa
RN 714 Indigenous Religions of West Africa
RN 715 Traditional African Religions in the Diaspora
Functional Specialties
Development
IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia
IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
IR 705 Modernization in Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan
AN 771 Political Anthropology of the Modern World
EC 521 Development Policy
EC 522 Development Strategy
GG 756 Geography of Third-World Development
PO 551 Comparative Political Development
PO 581 National Development and International Politics
PO 842 Comparative Development and Underdevelopment
SO 720 Development and Underdevelopment
SO 820 Graduate Study in Women and Social Change in the Developing World
Environment
IR 594 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy
IR 794 Current Issues in Environmental Affairs
EE 504 International Resources and Environmental Issues and Management
EE 511 Ecological Economics
EE 518 Natural Resource Scarcity and Economic Growth
RN 725 Topics in South Asian Religions: Buddhism and the Environment
International Economics and Business
IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia
IR 550 West European Integration
IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
IR 576 Essentials of International Management
IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
IR 592 International Economic Relations
IR 598 International Business Intelligence and Security Practices
IR 705 Modernization in Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan
IR 760 Political Economy of the European Community
IR 765 Japanese Political Economy
IR 789 Current Issues in International Economics and Business
AN 718 Southeast Asia: Tradition and Development
EC 521 Development Policy
EC 522 Development Strategy
EC 565 Economic Institutions in Historical Perspective
EC 591 International Trade
EC 595 International Finance
EE 511 Ecological Economics
GG 541 Economic Geography of Transport
PO 842 Comparative Development and Underdevelopment
SO 720 Development and Underdevelopment
Security Studies
IR 524 War and Statecraft
IR 557 Guerrilla Warfare
IR 578 Foreign Intelligence and Security Systems
IR 583 Aspects of Defense Planning and Technology
IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence
Theory and Practice of International Relations
IR 524 War and Statecraft
IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
IR 546 Power and Legitimacy: Ideology as a Political Tool
IR 553 Masterworks of International Relations
IR 560 Making Sense of the World: Conceptual Foundations of International Relations
IR 578 Foreign Intelligence and Security Systems
IR 595 Global Governance and International Organization
IR 772 Classics of International Relations
IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence
AN 755 Religious Fundamentalism in Anthropological Perspective
PO 577 Negotiation in World Affairs
PO 581 National Development and International Politics
PO 674 United States as a World Power
PO 677 Decision Making in International Politics
PO 771 Approaches to the Study of International Relations
RN 687 Anthropology of Religion
RN 695 Topics in Philosophy and Religion
RN 696 Topics in Philosophy and Religion
Master of Arts in International Relations and International Communications
An understanding of international relations study is necessary for the practice of international communication. This two-year joint degree program prepares students for careers in an international setting-working in film and television, journalism, mass communication, advertising, marketing, and public relations. Students complete all of the graduate-level international relations requirements as stated below and concurrently enroll in graduate-level communications courses through the College of Communication at Boston University.
This program is administered through the Department of International Relations. All application materials must be sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, not to the College of Communication.
International Relations Course RequirementsStudents are required to complete all of the degree requirements for the one-year MA in International Relations program, including the statistics and foreign language requirements. To fulfill the international relations course requirements, students must select three courses out of the four core areas, and five approved electives from the list of international relations courses.
Students must complete eight international relations courses (32 credits) and eight communications courses for a degree total of sixteen courses (64 credits).
International Relations Core Course RequirementsAll students must take (at least) one course in three of the four core areas of study (12 credits total) to satisfy the international relations core requirement. The four core areas and course listings can be found in the General MA Requirements section.
International Relations Elective Course RequirementsIn addition to the three core courses listed above, students must complete five elective courses, three of which should focus on a regional or functional concentration.
Communications Course RequirementsIn addition to the International Relations courses listed above, students are required to complete three communications core courses, three concentration courses, and two approved communications electives for a total of eight courses (32 credits). The specific requirements are listed below.
Communications Core Course RequirementsStudents must complete IR 531 Intercultural Communication and CM 710 Communication Theory, and one additional core course from the following list:
CM 722 Communication Research
CM 729 Public Opinion and Public Policy
CM 831 International Communication or CM 744 during the London Summer Program
Concentration Communication Course Requirement
Students must complete three courses from one of the concentration areas listed below. International Relations and International Communications students may fulfill their Statistics requirement with CM 722 Communication Research. (Courses marked with * are required for students choosing that concentration.) For courses that can be taken either toward a concentration or as a core class, students must choose whether to use the course toward their concentration or their core requirement, not both.
International Journalism
CM 744 International Mass Media
CM 745E Comparative Political Systems (London Summer Program only)
CM 831 International Communication
JO 502 Reporting National Security Affairs
JO 516 Foreign Reporting
JO 523 The Presidency and the Media
JO 526 Covering International Terrorism
JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
JO 577 Diplomatic Reporting
JO 721 Journalism Principles and Techniques*
JO 722 Advanced Journalism Seminar
JO 737E London Journalism Internship
International Marketing
CM 519 Interactive Marketing
CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising*
CM 716 Advertising Media Planning and Buying
CM 722 Communication Research
CM 728 International Public Relations
CM 730 Marketing Communication
CM 738 International Marketing Communication
CM 744E International Mass Media
CM 745 Comparative Political Systems
JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting
Public Relations
CM 510 Computers in Communication
CM 514 New Communication Technologies
CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
CM 535 Political Campaigning
CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations*
CM 709 Corporate Public Affairs
CM 715 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings
CM 728 International Public Relations
CM 734 Governmental Public Affairs
CM 742 Media Relations
CM 745E Comparative Political Systems (London Summer Program only)
CM 831 International Communication or CM 744 during the London Summer Program
Global Communication Technology Policy
CM 510 Computers in Communication
CM 514 New Communications Technologies*
CM 519 Interactive Marketing
CM 523 Design Interactive Communication
CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media
JO 540 Multimedia Publishing
Communication Research
CM 722 Communication Research
CM 723 Advanced Communication Research
CM 724 Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques
CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research
Master of Arts in International Relations and Environmental Policy
The management of natural resources and the resolution of environmental issues are increasingly important factors in determining the course of international relations. Competition for natural resources and efforts to control that competition are shaped largely by the geographical distribution of resources and by those who consume them. Environmental problems cross borders. This unique 12-course joint degree program offers students an opportunity to combine study in international relations and environmental science. Students divide their coursework between the Department of International Relations (IR) and the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (CEES).
Students, please note that admission into this joint degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the Department of International Relations and the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. These decisions are based on one complete application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students who are admitted by one department and not the other have the option to pursue the one-year MA degree in the department into which they were admitted.
RequirementsStudents are required to complete the core degree requirements for the one-year MA in International Relations program as stated above. Students must complete an additional nine courses (36 credits) for a degree total of twelve courses (48 credits). Of these nine additional courses, one is a jointly offered requirement, five are taken through CEES, two through the IR Department, and the final course may be taken either through CEES or IR.
CEES Core Course RequirementStudents are required to take four courses—GE/IR 595 International Environmental Policy and three others from the following list.
GE 510 Physical Principles of the Environment
GE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
GE 625 Energy and Environmental Policy Analysis
GE 660 Resource Economics.
CEES Elective Courses
Students are required to complete two approved elective courses from the CEES course offerings. For a list of these courses, please see the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies section of this bulletin.
IR Elective CoursesStudents are required to complete two approved IR elective courses for a total of 8 IR elective credits.
Master of Arts in International Relations and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
This dual degree program is offered to meet the needs of students seeking careers in administrative management, international affairs, consulting, international banking, or finance.
Students, please note that admission into this dual degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the Department of International Relations and the Graduate School of Management (GSM). These decisions are based on one complete application to GSM. Students who are admitted by GSM and not the Department of International Relations have the option to pursue a degree in GSM. Students not admitted by GSM will not be considered by the Department of International Relations. (See admissions requirements above or see the Graduate School of Management Bulletin.)
RequirementsCompletion of this dual degree program requires a total of 80 credits. Students must complete all of the degree requirements for the MA in International Relations stated above. In addition, students must complete (at least) 40 credits in GSM, including the core MBA courses and eight credits worth of additional GSM electives. Eight credits worth of courses (free electives) can be taken either in the Department of International Relations or GSM. Up to eight credits of the required 20 IR elective credits can be chosen from a limited list (see below) of GSM electives.
Core MBA Course RequirementAll dual degree students must complete the following courses for the MBA degree. The following courses should total 34 of the 80 required credits.
AC 710 Financial Reporting and Control
ES 700 Executive Presentations
ES 701 Executive Written Communication
ES 704 Career Launch
ES 705 Professional Portfolio
FE 721 Financial Management
FE 727 Economics and Management Decisions
IS 710 IT Strategies for a Networked Economy
MK 723 Marketing Management
OB 713 or OB 712 (part-time students only) Managing Individuals and Organizations
OM 725 Creating Value Through Operations and Technology
QM 716 Data Analysis for Managerial Decision Making
SP 700 Current Topics in Law and Ethics
SP 750 Competition, Innovation, and Strategy
Elective MBA Course Requirement
Students must take two elective courses or the equivalent of six credits through GSM to fulfill the 40-credit residency requirement for GSM.
Free Elective CoursesDual degree students can take any approved international relations elective courses or any GSM electives to fulfill the 8-credit free elective requirement.
IR ElectivesDual degree students must complete a total of 20 credits of IR electives. This requirement can be fulfilled with any approved International Relations elective courses. Students who so desire may fulfill up to eight credits of this requirement with GSM electives from the following list.
FE 827 International Financial ManagementFE 882 Analysis of Political Economics
IM 830 International Business Environment
IM 848 Fundamental Business Fuctions in International Operations
IM 849 Fundamental Business Functions in International Operations II
IM 859 International Strategic Alliance
IM 860 International Business Strategies
MK 853 Global Strategic Marketing
SP 856 International Entrepreneurship
Master of Arts in International Relations and Juris Doctor (JD)
This dual degree program requires three and one half years of study divided between the School of Law (LAW) and the Department of International Relations. A study of international relations and law prepares students for careers in national governments or international agencies, international negotiation, and human rights organizations.
Students, please note that admission into this dual degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the Department of International Relations and LAW. These decisions are based on one complete application to LAW. Students who are admitted by LAW and not the Department of International Relations have the option to pursue a degree in LAW. Students who are not admitted by LAW will not be considered by the Department of International Relations. (See admissions requirements above or see the School of Law Bulletin.)
RequirementsIn addition to the general degree requirements listed above, students must complete all of the requirements for the Juris Doctor through the School of Law. As part of the law curriculum, students must complete either Introduction to International Law (JD 927) or International Law; Origins and Development (JD 840). Three law electives are required during the second or third years of law school as part of the dual degree curriculum. At least one of these electives must be a seminar and at least one must be a course. All three classes must be chosen from among the School of Law’s international law offerings. For a complete listing, please contact the School of Law Registrar’s Office (617-353-3115).
Students are also required to complete three international relations elective courses in addition to the three core courses (total 24 credits). These courses can be chosen from the list of approved electives that appears below.
International Relations Courses
The following is the list of courses offered by the Department of International Relations. As part of the Master of Arts curriculum, students should choose their elective courses from this list. Both core and elective courses are listed below with course descriptions. Some coursework may be done outside of the Department with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.
CAS IR 503 U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
Examines the historical development and presents status of the United States’ association with the Middle East: American commercial, economic, political, military, and humanitarian interests in the area and their interaction. Norton. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 504 Seminar: The Persian Gulf/ Arabian Peninsula
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 506 India: An Emerging World Power
Prereq: Junior standing or consent of instructor. Examines the complex dynamics of India’s emergence as an independent nation, its continuance as a vibrant if contentious democracy, the ways in which the Indian democratic and international experience has been shaped by its history, culture, political structures, society, and economy. Haqqani. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 507 The Muslim and Western Worlds: A “Clash of Civilizations”?
Explores the perennially troubled relationship between the Western and Muslim worlds in an effort to shed light on the realities and mutual misperceptions that give credence to the perceived cultural fault line between Muslims and Westerners. Dunbar. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 508 Islamic Political Movements and U.S. Policy
Studies the origin and impact of various revivalist Islamic political movements and their intersection with U.S. foreign policy. Examines their ideologies, their views of the West, and their contribution to the rise of terrorism. Haqqani. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 509 Islam in Middle East Politics
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 511 The Middle East Today
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 516 Intelligence and Homeland Security
Aspects of homeland security, including information and intelligence sharing, the role of first responders, the structure and functioning of the system, and defensive and operational aspects. No prior knowledge of intelligence or security issues required. Hulnick. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia
Addresses two questions—How have noncommunist Asian governments attempted to advance public purpose? And how do organizational factors in countries’ governments affect their ability to do so?—in a comparative framework, considering both theory and cases. Grimes. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 521 Congress and National Security
Seminar on the constitutional, historical, and practical role of the U.S. Congress in foreign defense policy. Analyzes the powers of the relevant committees and illustrates Congress’ role in war making, treaties, appointments, and broad policy directions. Wippl. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 522 Ideas and American Foreign Policy
Prereq: CAS IR 376 or CAS PO 366. Grad Prereq: consent of instructor. (Meets with CAS HI 566.) Examines the intellectual foundations of U.S. foreign policy from the founding of the republic to the present. Bacevich. 4 cr, either sem.CAS IR 527 (PO 527) Political Economy of China
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 531 Intercultural Communication
Examines communicative problems that arise in contact between people from different cultural backgrounds in everyday life, social service encounters, and business transactions. Uses interdisciplinary approaches to study how verbal and nonverbal presentation, ethnic, gender, and cultural differences affect communication. Maître. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 536 European Environmental Policy
Focuses on key concepts, actors, and issues related to European integration, environmental policy making, and sustainable development. Also examines transatlantic environmental relations and the role of the European Union in global environmental governance. Selin. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 538 France, Europe, and the World: The History of French Foreign Relations in Modern Times
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 539 State-Formation and Nation-Building in Southeastern Europe: From Byzantium to Brussels
This course examines the politics of Southeastern Europe after the Cold War, in terms of the twin processes of state-formation and nation building. The unity and diversity of Balkan politics are explored through Byzantine, Ottoman, Cold War, and EU histories. Kyrou. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 540 Committing to Defend Europe: The U.S. and the U.K.
Parallel history of twentieth-century U.S. and U.K. departures from isolationism. Emphasis on three instances of overcoming reluctance to commit forces to the continent: World War I, World War II, and the creation of NATO. Attention to current NATO policies and questions about its future. Fromkin. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 541 DS Russia’s International Policies I
Soviet approaches to international policy, 1917–85; ideological and practical aspects. The policy-formation process and its machinery; domestic (factional) impact on that process. Strategic and tactical concepts from Lenin to Putin. The history of interstate and interparty relations. Meets with UNI SS 541. Ra’anan. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 542 The Reemergence of Russia
Disintegration of the old Soviet system and signs of a reemerging Russia; careers of Gorbachev and Yeltsin and their attack on the foundations of Stalinism; Moscow’s role in the 1989 revolutions; and the August 1991 coup d’état. The legacy of communism in the present medical and ecological crisis; current political developments. Lukes. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 543 The Changing Face of Eastern Europe
Domestic and foreign policies of East European states, their relationships with the former Soviet Union and with each other. Emphasis is on the period 1989–92, but recent events are presented within the historical contexts. Analysis of the formation and subsequent implosion of the Soviet sphere in Europe. The collapse of communism in Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, and its impact on the Soviet crisis, the Western alliance, and international relations. Lukes. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 544 DS Comparative Political Systems and Foreign Policies
Ideology and raison d’état in international relations. Ethnic conflict, nation, and state. National and territorial aspirations; alliance systems and spheres of influence. Policy formation in closed societies. Factional rivalries and “debates”; elite groups and “feudal” features of closed societies. The democratic experience; party and electoral systems. Meets with UNI SS 544. Ra’anan. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 545 Central/East European Diplomatic History, 1814–1918
The evolution, function, and interaction of modern European states. Nationalism as a major factor in European history. National unification and multinational empires. The perception and utilization of options in European diplomacy: the impact of technology and the arts upon policy formation. The emergence of post–1871 alliance systems and the path to World War I. Meets with UNI SS 545. Ra’anan. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 546 Power and Legitimacy: Ideology as a Political Tool
Using original texts from Plato to Havel, political theories and ideologies are studied as instruments of power. Analysis of the relationship between ideas, political elites, institutions, decision-making processes, and legitimacy. Emphasis is on the newly emerged post-totalitarian states. Meets with UNI SS 546. Lukes. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 547 The Intellectuals and the Powers
Intellectuals are the priestly class of many secular societies, ascribing significance to events and frequently offering visions of revolutionary redemption. This course examines the history of their emergence and their influence on European nations, particularly in shaping 20th century authoritarian regimes. Rosenberger. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 548 United Nations Peacekeeping
Provides an understanding of the problems confronting United Nations-led efforts to prevent armed conflict before it starts, contain and end such conflicts once they start, and create conditions whereby an enduring peace can be maintained. Dunbar. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 549 Politics and International Relations of the New Germany
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 550 West European Integration
Assesses the meaning of “European Union” in its domestic, foreign policy, and economic dimensions. To understand the opportunities and limits of cooperation and conflict, relevant issue areas of European Community policy are discussed from a functionalist and realist perspective. Schmidt. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 551 Social Europe
The past, present, and future of “social Europe.” Impact of European economic and political integration on national identitites, cultures, politics, and citizenship: EU policies affecting these social constructions; and changes over time in the welfare state. Schmidt. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 552 Nordic Europe
A brief historical overview of the region from the Viking Age to the emergence of the modern states is followed by study of the Nordic countries with respect to the European Union, security arrangements, and assistance to the developing world. Corgan. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 554 Intellectual Foundations of American Statecraft I: Washington to Theodore Roosevelt
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 555 Intellectual Foundations of American Statecraft II: Wilson to Kissinger
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 556 Current Intelligence Issues
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 557 Guerrilla Warfare and Terrorism
Advanced undergraduate course dealing with recent and ongoing guerrilla and terrorist campaigns worldwide. Origins, ideologies, and doctrines. Maître. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 560 The Politics of Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationalism in International Relations
Prereq: junior standing. Explores causes, consequences, and patterns of resurgent religion, ethnicity, and nationalism in post-Cold War international relations, using interdisciplinary scholarship, policy literatures, and case studies. Sturgis. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 561 The Multiple Modernities of Religion and International Relations
Explores role of religion in contemporary international relations as part of broader problems of what constitutes the common core of modernity. Review scholarly and policy literature, and case studies, to elucidate intellectual and operational diversity of religion in international relations. Prodromou. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 562 Politics and Religion in Modern Europe: Church-State Relations in Comparative Perspective
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 566 Democracy in Latin America
Provides an overview of democracy’s achievements and challenges in Latin America. Draws comparisons between stable and unstable democracies in the region, and analyzes the reasons for, and implications of, these differences. Blanco. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 567 Latin American Politics
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 568 U.S. – Latin American Relations
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 570 Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan
Berger. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 571 Central America and U.S. Policy
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 572 The Latin American Military
Addresses the Latin American military’s historical development and current role within the context of the authoritarian tradition. Political disposition, military capabilities, and the armed forces’ strategic thinking are considered. Blanco. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 574 Ethics and International Relations
International Relations involves important ethical questions: Is my nation always right? Can war be justified? Is terrorism always wrong? What is the place of human rights in foreign policy? Seminar will examine approaches to these questions in international ethics literature. Jackson. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
Explores the dynamics of contemporary Mexican political economy and Mexico’s participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in order to understand the causes and effects of Mexico’s profound transformation in recent years. Addresses the challenges that lie ahead. Meets with CAS PO 553. Thacker. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 578 Foreign Intelligence and Security Systems
Description and analysis of the intelligence and security systems of major nations in the western, eastern, and developing worlds. Organization, practices, and programs are explored to define patterns of behavior and the effect on the security policies of foreign nations. Hulnick. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 579 Japan in International Politics
International and domestic influences on Japan’s international behavior in the past as a predictor of Japan’s future role in international politics. Covers Japan’s role in the Cold War, post-war Asia, and the management of the global economy. Examines viability of post-Cold War U.S.-Japan relationship. Schoff. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 581 The Evolution of Strategic Intelligence
Examines the uses of strategic intelligence by modern world leaders in shaping policy and the effects of intelligence on world events. Various uses of intelligence—collecting information analysis, counterintelligence, and secret operations—are explored with emphasis on the period from the Congress of Vienna to the end of the Cold War. Wippl. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 583 Aspects of Defense Planning and Technology
Limited to seniors and graduate students. An introduction and survey for the nonspecialized student. Topics include superpowers in military alliance, conventional and nuclear defense, doctrines and their tools, defense industries in free economies and under socialism, efficiency and national defense, NATO and the Falklands War, and concepts of interoperability. Maître. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 585 Problems and Issues in Post–Mao China
An in-depth examination of politics in post–Mao China. This course focuses on several critical issues and uses various conceptual frameworks to try to understand why the reform process broke down and examines prospects for the future. Meets with CAS PO 558. Fewsmith. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics
Prereq: limited to seniors and graduate students except by consent of instructor. Examines the relations among state, politics, and Islam in South Asia, with particular focus on the unsolved conflicts over Kashmir and Afghanistan. Haqqani. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 587 Political Economy of the Middle East
Considers the state of the Middle Eastern political economy and focuses on the failure of the rentier state and the difficulty of political and economic liberalization. Themes are petroleum, the uncertain course of political pluralism, and political Islam. Dunbar. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 589 North Atlantic/European Security Issues
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 591 Great Powers in the Middle East 1798–1922
Examines the modern Middle East, with its new and old states and its current contested frontiers as a product of European rivalries in the region in war and peace, 1798-1922. Also offered as CAS HI 591. Fromkin. 4 cr, 2nd sem.CAS IR 594 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy
This course seeks to provide a broad overview of the key concepts, actors, concerns, and issues related to the process of negotiating global environmental policies. It includes an overview of the international system and of the environmental problematique, and an international negotiation simulation. Also examines case studies of specific global agreements on ozone depletion, climate change, desertification, biodiversity, etc. Meets with CAS EE 504. Selin. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 596 Globalization and Contemporary Capitalism in Advanced Industrialized Nations
How has globalization affected national sovereignty and control? Competing hypotheses are examined with specific reference to the internationalization of trade and the financial markets, and its impact on the three postwar models of capitalism. Schmidt. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 597 Sustainable Development in Latin America
Provides an empirically based understanding of the social and environmental aspects of economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) for purposes of analyzing the numerous trade and development policies that nations in LAC are currently considering. Gallagher. 4 cr, 1st sem.CAS IR 598 International Business Intelligence and Security Practices
Not offered 2008/2009CAS IR 599 Science, Politics, and Climate Change
Applies a science and technology studies perspective to climate change science and policy. Examines the relationships between scientific and political systems at global, national, and local levels. Also offered as CAS GG 599. Selin. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
Offers a rigorous introduction to the basic concepts of international relations, including analytical approaches, state system and non-state actors, international legal principles, diplomatic practice, and international ethics. Emphasizes history, case study, and practical application. Corgan. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 702 Research Methods for International Relations Practitioners
Provides tools for designing and implementing rigorous research and policy papers. Reviews formulation of research questions and choice of research methods. Introduces methodologies including case study, archival research, and basic quantitative analysis. Thacker. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 703 Introduction to Security Studies
Introduces core concepts of international security, including deterrence, balance of power theory, alliance politics, arms races, asymmetric warfare, and non-traditional security concerns such as terrorism. Topics are considered from both a theoretical basis and in historical and contemporary context. Bacevich. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 704 International Economic Relations
Intermediate-level survey of the contemporary politics, economics, and policy questions in the international economy: theories of international political economy and international economics; politics of international economic institutions; analyses of industrial development, foreign investment, global and regional trade, and poverty alleviation. Gallagher. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 706 The Iranian Revolution and Its Impact on the Middle East
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 707 Political Reform in the Middle East
Seminar analyzes and rethinks Middle East politics. Authoritarian governments rule most of the Middle east, but internal and external pressures for change are mounting. Given the tenuousness of the status quo, political reform will be hard to avoid. Norton. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 711 Civil Society and the State
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 712 International State Systems
The pivotal issues in the development of the international state system will be explored: the presumed obsolescence of the national state through economic interdependence, democratic peace, and transnational demands; the rise and fall of great powers as states, hegemonies, and empires. Jackson. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 718 International Migration and Diaspora in World Politics.
Grad prereq: graduate standing. Explores how the movement of people across borders is reshaping world politics. Impacts of migration on the economy, domestic politics, regional integration, national identity, and the institution of the sovereign nation state. Historical perspectives and contemporary case studies. Berger. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 721 War, Guilt, and World Politics
Explores questions regarding the politics of memory: how countries define their past; what lessons and moral consequences they draw from their history; and how representations of the past influence multilateral and bilateral relations. Case studies involving France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, and the United States. Berger. 4 cr, either sem.GRS IR 722 U.S. Foreign Policy since the End of the Cold War
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 750 Defense Policies of Nations
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 757 Transnational Shi’ism
Begins with the original split in Islam that generated Twelver Shi’ism, discusses key features of the religion, such as Muharram rituals and the existence of a quasi-clergy, and ends with a discussion of individual Shi’ite countries and relations between them. Chehabi. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 759 International Institutions for Finance, Development, and Trade
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 760 The Political Economy of the European Union
Investigates major issues of Western European economic integration, utilizing theories of political/classical economics. Since all previous schemes for economic/monetary integration have failed, identification of conditions, winners, and losers of the integration process is focal. Schmidt. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 762 Turkey and the European Union: The History and Contemporary Aspects of Turkey’s European Path
This course examines the relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in terms of European integration. Interaction of two data sets is considered: key concepts, actors, concerns and issues of European integration; historical and contemporary hallmarks of Turkey’s political, economic, cultural, and military development. Prodromou. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 764 Seminar on China in the Contemporary World
Examines the various dimensions of China’s rise—economic, military, and in reputation—and its implications for Asia and the world. Special attention to the links between domestic and foreign policy and to the dynamic of Sino-U.S. relations. Fewsmith. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 765 Japanese Political Economy
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 767 Latin American Comparative Politics
Not offered 2008/2009GRS IR 768 Reform of the State: Political and Institutional Reforms in Latin America
Examines efforts at political and institutional reform in Latin America, their successes, challenges, and failures. Blanco. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 772 Classics of International Relations
A reading of major international relations classics of the twentieth century in the original texts, assessed both in their historical context and from a contemporary point of view. Fromkin. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence
Explores major aspects of strategic intelligence; interrelationship of intelligence and other aspects of foreign policy; performance of U.S. intelligence community; and intelligence as a tool in the formulation of foreign policy. Hulnick. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 787 The Latin American Policies of the United States
Examination of key factors shaping past and present U.S. policies toward Latin America—including political, economic, and bureaucratic; as well as domestic, regional, and international. Includes case studies of contemporary issues to highlight decision-making processes, instruments of implementation, and policy consequences. Palmer. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 787 The Latin American Policies of the United States
Focuses on the international relations of the Asia-Pacific region. Analysis of issues that have defined regional relations; the impact of the Cold War and its aftermath, the impact of regional economic growth and dynamism, and the emergence of contention over regional identity and its relationship to global politics. Grimes. 4 cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 789 Globalization, Development, Governance
Covers the latest theory and evidence related to international trade and development policy. Additional focus on how these issues are dealt with by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and international economic agreements. Gallagher. 4 cr, 2nd sem.GRS IR 802 Russia’s International Policies II
Soviet and post-Soviet approaches to international policy (including Russia’s relations with the former Soviet Republics), 1985–present, and ideological and practical aspects. The policy formation process and its machinery; the impact of competing institutions and organizations on that process. Strategic and tactical concepts in the Gorbachev era and post-Soviet Russia. The impact of geopolitical and other permanent factors. Ra’anan. 4 cr, 2nd sem.Teaching Fellow Training
GRS IR 699 Teaching International Relations I
The goals, contents, and methods of instruction in international relations. General teaching-learning issues. Required of all teaching fellows. Corgan. 2 cr, 1st & 2nd sem.Directed Study
All Directed Study courses require a memorandom of understanding written by the student and approved by the- supervising faculty member and the Director of Graduate Studies/Chair of the International Relations Department. Please contact the Graduate Programs Administrator for more details at 617-353-9349 or irgrad@bu.edu.
GRS IR 901 Directed Study I
Advanced independent study in international relations under the supervision of a faculty member. Course usually requires a formal research paper. Hours arranged. TBA. Variable cr, 1st sem.GRS IR 902 Directed Study II
Advanced independent study in international relations under the supervision of a faculty member. Course usually requires a formal research paper. Hours arranged. TBA. Variable cr, 2nd sem.
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